THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN FERTILIZER SALTS 

ON THE GROWTH AND NITROGEN - CONTENT 

OF SOME LEGUMES. 



A THESIS 



PRESENTED TO 

THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY 

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 



BY 
ALEXANDER MAC TAGGART 



REPRINTED FROM SOIL SCIENCE, VOL. XI, No. 6, JUNE 1921. 



THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN FERTILIZER SALTS 

ON THE GROWTH AND NITROGEN - CONTENT 

OF SOME LEGUMES. 



A THESIS 



PRESENTED TO 

THE FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF CORNELL UNIVERSITY 

FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY 



BY 
ALEXANDER MAC TAGGART 



REPRINTED FRUM SOIL SCIENCE, VOL. XI, No. 6, JUNE 1921. 



^^ 






0^ ^,^r 'fc. 



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Reprinted from Soil Science 
Vol. XI, No. 6, June, 1921 



THE INFLUENCE OF CERTAIN FERTILIZER SALTS ON THE 

GROWTH AND NITROGEN-CONTENT OF SOME 

LEGUMES 



ALEXANDER MacTAGGART 

Cornell University 

Received for publication February 14, 1921 
INTRODUCTION 



Since the time of Hellriegel and WiKarth (1888-90) who estabhshed the 
fact that symbiotic bacteria are responsible for nitrogen-assimilation by 
legumes, and that of Beyerinck (1888), who isolated the specific causal organ- 
ism (Bacillus radicicola), the scientific world has beheved that leguminous 
plants obtain the bulk of their nitrogen from the atmosphere. In recent years 
it has been fully demonstrated by a number of investigators also that calcium 
plays an unportant part in the soil in increasing the activity of this symbiotic 
organism and hence in stimulating the assimilation of nitrogen by legumes. 
It has, however, not been so fully shown just what fertilizing elements, other 
than calcium, and what combination or combinations of these elements best 
promote this nitrogen-assimilation and legume growth generally. To shed 
further hght, if possible, on this somewhat obscure topic the investigation 
herein described was undertaken. In addition to the work of ascertaming 
the effect of certain fertiUzer salts, containing the elements that it was thought 
fit to study specially, on the growth (dry-matter) and nitrogen-content of a 
few legumes, it was deemed advisable to investigate also the effect of these 
salts and of the resulting crop growth on subsequent soil nitrification. 



HISTORICAL 



It has been stated in the introduction to this thesis that in recent years it 
has been fully demonstrated that calcium plays an important part in the soil 
in stunulating symbiotic organisms and hence in promoting the growth of 
most legumes. Thus it was deemed advisable not to include lime in this 
investigation as a subject for further study but to provide each treatment, 
including that for the checks, with calcium carbonate. A mere reference 
here to the investigators of recent years who have found lime in various ways 
beneficial to legumes therefore must suffice. The list includes the following, 
in order according to the date of their pubUshed writings on the subject: 
R. Ulbricht (57); C. G. Hopkins (23); A. F. Khandurin (25); D. N. Prianisch- 

435 



436 ALEXANDER MACTAGGART 

nikov (46) ; T. L. Lyon and J. A. Bizzell (40) ; J. F. Duggar and M. J. Funchess 
(7); J. B. Abbott (1); J. G. Lipman, A. M. Blair, I. L. Owen, and H. C. Mc- 
Lean (36); Lipman, Blair, McLean and Wilkins, L. K. (37); Lipman and 
Blair (30, 31, 32, 33 34, 35); W. Frear (14); F. W. Morse (43); E. B. Fred 
and E. J. Graul (15, 16); H. W. Truesdell (56); J K. Wilson (60); C. R. Fel- 
lers (9). Doubtless there are other investigators who may be cited, but the 
experimental findings of the above-mentioned are adequate for purposes of 
establishing the fact that lime is beneficial in various ways to legumes as a 
whole. 

The literature on the subject of the effect of various nutrient salts, other 
than calcium, on the growth and nitrogen-content of legumes, is not as exten- 
sive as that associated with lime and its effects thereon. Nevertheless, a 
search revealed a fair supply of published matter, particularly with reference 
to the action of individual elements, such as phosphorus and sulfur, on certain 
phases of the growth of legumes. This literature is cited below in chrono- 
logical order within the citation of the published material in general apper- 
taining to experiments with a particular nutrient element. 

On the subject of the effect of nitrogen, in various forms, on the assimila- 
tion of atmospheric nitrogen and on the growth thereby of legumes, the fol- 
lowing citations are furnished: 

1910. Lohnis (39) discussed at length the earlier history of the investiga- 
tions associated with this question. He cited numerous investigators and 
stated their individual contributions to this controversial topic, listing among 
the supporters of the idea of nitrogen-fixation by legumes in the presence of 
abundance of nitrogen, both organic and inorganic, Prazmowski, Beijerink, 
Frank, Bohme, Aeby, Baszler, Nobbe and Hiltner. On the other hand there 
were cited the names of investigators whose work in general favored the idea 
of non-fixation in the presence of strong nitrates, of ammonium nitrates or 
sulfates, of strong accumulation of nitrogen from continuous manuring, or 
of water cultures. These workers included Wohltmann and Bergene, Vines, 
Laurent, Nobbe and Richter, Maze, Marchall, Flamand, and Hiltner. 

1914. Lipman and others (30), by means of pot experiments, showed that 
there was little difference in the jdeld and nitrogen content of soybeans fer- 
tilized with varying quantities of acid phosphate, nitrate of soda, gypsum and 
calcium carbonate. Gypsimi gave the lowest percentage of nitrogen. Cal- 
cium carbonate, nitrate of soda, or acid phosphate in double quantity did not 
affect the protein content of the plant appreciably, although this increased 
the yield. 

1915 and 1916. Lipman and Blair (31, 32, 33, 34) found that the nitrogen 
content of soybeans increased with applications of nitrate of soda, ammonium 
sulfate and dried blood. They also found that in sand cultures nodule devel- 
opment was not depressed by nitrogenous fertilizers, and that therewith the 
yield of dry matter increased up to a maximum and then decreased. 



INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZERS ON NITROGEN CONTENT OF LEGUMES 437 

1916. Shive (52) found salts, except in weak concentrations, injurious to 
soybeans grown in sand. Ammonium salts, other than ammonium sulfate, 
exerted a more toxic action on soybeans than any of the corresponding salts 
of potassiimi, sodium and calciimi. 

1917. J. K. Wilson (60) pointed out the effects of various salts on nodule 
development. In general, chlorides, phosphates, calcium compounds and 
carbon-containing compounds seemed to stimulate nodule formation, while 
sulfates and ammonia-containing fertiHzers depressed this formation on 
soybeans. 

1917. Truesdell (56) found that the use of nitrogen did not increase the 
number of nodules on alfalfa roots. Nitrogen had apparently a depressing 
influence on the air-dry weights of the first cutting of this crop, grown in 
uninoculated soil, but it had no harmful effects on subsequent cuttings. He 
also found that the addition of nitrogen to the soil increased the total nitro- 
gen in the roots of alfalfa. 

1918. Fellers (9) showed that nitrate of soda increased the yield of soybeans 
but inhibited nodule formation and consequent fixation of atmospheric nitro- 
gen, and concluded that it is not economical to supply soluble plant-food in 
the form of nitrogenous fertilizers to this, crop. Nitrate of soda caused an 
appreciable increase in the protein-content of soybean seeds. 

1918. Hills (22) found that the presence of large amounts of potassium, 
sodium, and calcium nitrates proved detrimental to the formation of nodules 
on alfalfa. Alfalfa seedlings grown in the presence of large amounts of nitrate 
did not produce nodules when inoculated with a viable culture of B. radicicola. 
Nitrates in soil cultures prevented the re-formation of nodules once removed 
and also caused a decrease in the number of nodules already present. 

1920. Albrecht (2) concluded from his investigations that nitrogen fixation 
will take place in a soil containing large amounts of nitrogen in the form of 
either nitrates or organic matter, that no injurious effects on nitrogen fixation 
are caused by nitrates, that nodules are produced in the presence of large 
amounts of organic matter, and that variations in total nitrogen of a soil fail 
to affect nitrogen fixation. 

On the effect of phosphorus upon the legume phenomenon, the following 
citations may be made : 

1916. Shive (52), growing soybeans in solutions, found that phosphates 
caused injury to most of the seedlings where high concentrations of the radical 
PO4 were employed. 

1917. Truesdell (56) concluded that a part of the benefit to higher plants 
from phosphorus was due to some additional factor other than cellular stimu- 
lation and the quickening of soil bacterial processes, as suggested previously 
by Fred and Hart (17) and Lipman (29). 

Working with Miami silt loam in earthenware jars under greenhouse con- 
ditions, Truesdell grew alfalfa with phosphorus (dicalciimi phosphate) and 
phosphorus plus nitrogen (urea). The beneficial effect of phosphorus on 



438 ALEXANDER MACTAGGART 

plant growth was noted almost from the start, and this rapid early growth 
may be accounted for, according to the author, only as a result of direct nutri- 
tion and stimulation of the plant by phosphorus, and as a result of the quick- 
ening of bacterial actions other than those connected with nitrogen fixation. 

Phosphorus increased the formation of nodules, and this finding substanti- 
ated the previous investigations of Marchal (4), Laurent (26), Wohltmann 
and Bergene (61), Lohnis (38), Deherain and Demoussy (6), Flamand (10), 
Prucha (47), and J. K. Wilson (59). 

Analyses of the roots of aKalfa showed an increase in the total nitrogen- 
content due to the addition of phosphorus. 

The percentage of nitrogen in the first alfalfa cutting varied in inverse pro- 
portion with the dry-weights, this being in agreement with numerous observa- 
tions that rapid-growing plants contain a smaller percentage of nitrogen, on 
dry- weight basis, than slow-growing plants. But here, though the phosphorus- 
treated plants grew faster than the controls, yet the total nitrogen was greater 
in this phosphorus-treated alfaKa. 

Analyses of the third cutting, which was deemed more representative of 
the normal mature growth of the crop, showed an entire agreement between 
the results, due to phosphorus, obtained from the whole crop and from the 
first cutting, by way of increased total nitrogen and increased dry weight. 
But the third cutting showed an increase in the percentage of nitrogen in the 
tops for phosphorus treatment. Phosphorus caused a greater total of nitro- 
gen and a greater percentage of nitrogen to be stored in the tops than did 
nitrogen treatment of the soil. The data for the inoculated and the uninocu- 
lated series agreed throughout. Consequently, the author concluded that the 
difference in the percentage of nitrogen must unquestionably be considered as 
resulting from phosphorus treatment. The results obtained by the use of 
phosphorus were (a) increased growth, and (b) greater efl&ciency in fixing and 
storing nitrogen. The nodule bacteria apparently had not only supplied more 
nitrogen to those plants that received heavier treatments of phosphorus, but 
had also stored a larger percentage of nitrogen in their tops. 

The data seemed to indicate increased activity of root bacteria due to phos- 
phorus, resulting in the above-mentioned benefits. This relation was espe- 
cially evident in the third cutting where an additional benefit from phosphorus 
was expressed in the occurrence of an increased percentage of nitrogen. 

1918. Fellers (9) concluded from field experiments with soybeans that 
the yields of total dry matter and seed are materially increased by small appli- 
cations of acid phosphate, especially on well limed soils. One to two hundred 
pounds appeared to be as beneficial as large applications. He also found that 
nodule formation on soybeans was stimulated, on limed soils, by acid phos- 
phate. The stimulation was not so marked on acid soils. This fertihzer 
seemed to exert a beneficial influence on protein formation in the seed on 
both Hmed and unlimed plots. The fertilizer treatment for soybeans that 
appeared to give the best return for the money invested was probably 200 
to 400 pounds of acid phosphate, together with a ton of lime, per acre. 



INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZERS ON NITROGEN CONTENT OF LEGUMES 439 

The intimate relation of potash to nitrogen-assimilation by legumes has in 
the past been definitely estabUshed by various investigators. Recent investi- 
gations on the subject of potash fertiUzing of legimies however may be cited. 

1918. Fellers (9), by field experiments, showed that muriate of potash in 
appUcations of 50 to 400 pounds per acre gave an average increase of about 
10 per cent in the yield of total dry matter and seed of soybeans on both limed 
and unlimed plots. Nodule production was slightly stimulated on the limed 
plots but not on the unlimed. Potash, he found, had Uttle influence on the 
protein content of the seeds of soybeans. 

The literature on the subject of the effects of sulfur upon the growth and 
nitrogen content of legumes is fairly extensive, and from this pubHshed mate- 
rial the following citations may be made: 

1911. Hart and Peterson (20) called attention to the apparent deficiency 
of sulfur in certain soils as related to the demands made upon this element 
by some species of agricultural plants, legumes included. Analyses of these 
crops showed alfalfa especially high in sulfur content, and that this crop's 
sulfur requirements were actually greater than the phosphorus requirements. 

1912. Bernard (3) found crop increases from the use of sulfur. 

1912. Boullanger (4) obtained increased yields of crops from the sulfur 
treatment of the soil. 

1913. C. B. Lipman (27) concluded that gypsum stimulated the beneficial 
soil organisms on the roots of legumes. 

1914. Lipman and Blair (30) fertiUzed soybeans grown in pots, with cal- 
cium sulfate, nitrate of soda and calcium carbonate at appHcations of 10 gm. 
and 25 gm. The maximum yield of soybeans for a single pot was obtained 
from the calcium sulfate treatment. 

1914. Shedd (50) obtained beneficial effects from sulfate with various 
crops grown in soil cultures. There were decided gains in the growth of soy- 
beans with applications of sulfur, ammonium sulfate, pyrite and ferrous sul- 
fate and smaller gains with calcium, potassium, bariimi, magnesiiun, alumi- 
num and sodium sulfates on a soil containing 600 pounds of sulfur and 3040 
pounds of phosphorus per acre. 

1914. Reimer (48) obtained increased yields of alfalfa grown in the pres- 
ence of flowers of siflfur. 

1915. Hart and Tottingham (21), by means of soil cultures in the green- 
house, found that suKur in the form of calcium sulfate, more so than in the 
form of sodium sulfate, was beneficial to common red clover, especially length- 
ening its root-system, hence feeding power, and increasing the yield of the 
dry matter 23 per cent. They showed also increased yields of legumes with 
calcium sulfate added to a complete fertilizer over a complete fertilizer plus 
potassium chloride. Here, they claimed, the action of the calcium sulfate 
must have been direct. 

The same investigators found that calcium sulfate was especially favorable 
in increasing the yield of grain in peas. Its effect in increasing straw was 
more in evidence with beans and red clover. 



440 ALEXANDER MACTAGGART 

1916. Pitz (45) concluded that calcium sulfate in small amounts increased 
the yield of red clover and the formation of nodules. Sulfates stimulated the 
development of red clover bacteria as well as the young plant. Elemental 
sulfur, however, increased the yield of red clover but slightly, and did not 
affect the root development nor the formation of nodules. 

1916. Duley (8) found that when used alone on silt loam soil, flowers of 
sulfur was beneficial to the yield of red clover. It also very markedly in- 
creased nodule production on the roots of red clover when added to a complete 
fertilizer. 

1917. Shedd (51) grew soybeans, red clover, alfalfa, and other legumes 
with 100 to 200 pounds of flowers of sulfur. He found that in the soybeans, 
which showed an increased sulfur content, no corresponding increased protein 
content always was found. In five out of eight instances, however, soybeans 
grown in soil where sulfur was added showed an increase in the total weight 
of protein. 

1917. Brown (5), from experiments conducted in the Hood River Valley 
of southern Oregon, states that sulfur is a valuable fertilizer for alfalfa, the 
sulfur content of which is very high, according to the experiment station 
analyses. There air-slacked lime failed to produce increased yields of alfalfa, 
but when followed by a 100-pound application of land plaster (calcium sul- 
fate) at the end of the first cutting, the plants immediately took on renewed 
vigor and easily surpassed the unfertihzed plot on a total season's yield by the 
end of the last, or third cutting. This increase was shown despite the fact 
that the first cutting showed 1168 pounds for the check versus only 480 pounds 
for the other. The experiments with flowers of sulfur did not show such 
large increases of alfalfa, and it would seem, stated the author, that the lighter 
applications are the most economical when applied each year. Sulfur being 
quite insoluble in water, hence not immediately available, it was recommended 
that it be appHed in the fall or not later than January or February, whereas 
land plaster should be appHed as early as March to produce good results. 

1918. Tottingham (55) showed that the addition of sodium sulfate and 
calcium sulfate to the sulfur-free modification of Knop's solution, in amounts 
equivalent to the sulfur of the unmodified solution, produced a greater yield 
of dry tops of red clover than did the latter solution, calcium sulfate being 
very efficient in this respect. It appeared as if the sulfur of gypsum functioned 
in the molecular combination in which it was supplied. The data obtained 
indicated that a deficiency of sulfur supply restricts growth by limiting the 
synthesis of protein. The author stated that the more or less parallel fluctua- 
tions of the plane of sulfur supply, the weight of nitrogen assimilated, and the 
yield of dry tops of the red clover plants, indicated that sulfur deficiency 
restricted growth by limiting this synthesis of protein. 

1919. Miller (42) concluded that the great increase found in the nitrogen 
content of the clover grown in soil where sulfate had been added, is the result, 
in all probabiHty, of these sulfates stimulating the action of legume bacteria. 



INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZERS ON NITROGEN CONTENT OF LEGUMES 441 

His experiments also showed that sulfates caused an increase in root develop- 
ment and in the number of nodules on the red clover roots. 

1919. Reimer and Tartar (49) found that on various types of soil alfalfa 
and red clover were increased from 50 to 1000 per cent by the use of various 
types of fertilizers containing sulfur, gypsmn included. The soils ranged 
from coarse granite soils to the heaviest adobes. None were acid nor notice- 
ably alkahne. Fall appHcations gave best results. The sulfur fertilizers used 
were very stimulative of the root system, increasing its size and the number 
of nodules. The fertiUzed plants contained more sulfur, more protein, and 
more nitrogen than the unfertilized. Gypsum was equal to superphosphate 
in results, but it was expected that eventually the latter would give superior 
returns, because the phosphorus content of the soils experimented with was 
rather low. Rock phosphate gave negative results in this region. 

1920. Stewart (54), from very sHght increases in the yield of soybeans and 
alfalfa grown in the field, and from slight decreases in clover yields, over a 
period of years, concluded that sulfur is not a factor in the production of 
crops, on brown silt loam at least. After examining the results obtained with 
g5^simi during a period of 18 years at the Ohio station, he concluded that 
it is quite evident that the apparently beneficial action of gypsum is due to 
its stimulating effect, particularly on bacterial life (shown by Greaves), thus 
enabling the crop to draw better upon the inadequate supply of phosphorus 
in the soil. 

1920. Singh (53) found, by the use of pot cultures, that gypsiun generally 
increased the process of fixation of nitrogen by B. radicicola, the greatest 
increase occurring with the largest application. He further found that 1000 
pounds of gypsum increased the yield of red clover, but that other applications 
did not have any effect on other legumes (alfalfa, Canada field peas, and soy- 
beans). The nitrogen content of legumes, he found, was not affected by 
gypsum. 

The literature upon the subject of the effect of fertilizer salts upon soil 
nitrification appears to be somewhat limited. A few citations having a 
bearing upon this phase of our investigation however may be stated. 

1904. Fraps (11) pointed out that phosphoric acid and potash increased 
nitrification in some soils, while in other soils the opposite effect was produced. 

1908. The same investigator (12) showed that these soil constituents had 
little effect upon the production of active nitrogen, though in some cases nitri- 
fication was affected considerably. With both phosphoric acid and potash 
the active nitrogen was much less affected than the production of nitrates. 

1920. Fraps (13) also found that the addition of phosphate and of potash 
to potted soils increased nitrification in several types of soil and caused the 
soils which nitrify very slowly to nitrify in a shorter time. Dicalcium phos- 
phate was more effective than potash (K2SO4) in these respects. He further 
showed that calcium carbonate increased nitrification. During these experi- 
ments, however, a considerable time elapsed before he noticed the formation 
of nitrates. 

SOIL SCIENCE, VOL. XI, KO. 6 



442 ALEXANDER MACTAGGART 

1909. Lipman (28) observed that the amounts of NO3 nitrogen in parts 
per million were favorably affected by gypsimi. 

1912. Patterson and Scott (44) found that superphosphate increased nitri- 
fication of ammonia added to a soil, and concluded that this fertilizer may 
prove a useful aid to nitrification. The soil, however, was poor in P2O5 
(0.032 per cent). They suggested that phosphates may help to nourish nitri- 
fying organisms as well as the crop; and that where not required by these 
organisms, superphosphate, being acid, will probably do harm. Gypsum, 
they found, had a moderate effect in encouraging nitrification, but was not 
at all equal to calcium carbonate in this respect. They further showed that 
sodium chloride (salt) had a bad all-round effect on nitrate production. 

1916. Jensen (24) found that bone meal, superphosphate, waste lime, 
and dry yard manure decreased the nitrifying activity in field soils. The 
manured plots lost most nitrogen, especially those to which ammonium sul- 
fate was added, while the limed plots showed a gain in total nitrogen. Plots 
receiving calcium cyanamid, phosphatic fertilizers, and nitrate showed a slight 
gain in total nitrogen over the checks. 

1916. Duley (8) showed that the nitrate content of the soil varied inversely 
with the amount of soluble suKate in the soil. 

1918. FuLmer (18) found that while nitrification is benefited by limestone, 
calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate (particularly by the latter), it 
is only very slightly increased by phosphates (dibasic magnesium phosphate 
and monocalcium phosphate were used) in certain Wisconsin soils. 

1918. Greaves (19) and his co-workers showed that calcium suKate is 
more efficient than potassivmi chloride as a stimulator of nitrification, increas- 
ing nitric-nitrogen accumulation of the soil 97 per cent. They found that 
those compounds which are the strongest plant stimulants also are the most 
active in increasing nitric-nitrogen accumulation of the soil, and that it is 
very likely that the effect upon the plant is due mainly to the action of the 
compound upon the bacteria, which in turn render available more plant-food. 
They asserted, however, that the ammonifying powers of a soil containing 
alkalis are a better index to its crop-producing powers than are the nitrifying 
powers. They further found that nitrification was least with KCl out of 
the six chlorides experimented with. The soil, however, contained over 7 
per cent of CaCOs, and therefore was suited for satisfactory nitrification 
results from the use of gypsum. 

1920. Whiting and Schoonover (58), working with field soils in which 
soybeans were grown, showed that phosphorus in the form of rock phosphate 
increased nitric nitrogen to the extent of 18.09 to 19.01 pounds per acre, over 
and above that produced by organic matter (stable manure or crop residues). 

1920. Singh (53), working with pot cultures, found that nitrification was 
depressed by gypsum alone, but the use of gypsum and lime together increased 
the process. 



rNTLUENCE OF FERTILIZERS ON NITROGEN CONTENT OF LEGUMES 443 
EXPERIMENTAL 

Methods and results 

Thirty-six square, stout wooden boxes were each filled with 128 pounds of 
a mixture composed of 110 pounds of clean sand and 18 pounds of a sandy- 
loam soil. The soil medium was thus decidedly low in plant nutrients but 
contained enough to supply the crops grown provided it was in an available 
condition. This was designed to make very pronounced the effect of those 
fertihzer nutrients in the soil that were not readily available as compared with 
those that were. The inclusion of the loam served the purpose of introducing 
the nitrifying organisms. The subsequent crop growth was carried out in 
the greenhouse. The content of each box was compacted alike, and the mois- 
ture content of the soil, as far as possible, was maintained throughout at 10 
per cent (on the dry-soil basis) by weighing the boxes at regular intervals, 
varying with the crop and with the stage of the growing season. On Novem- 
ber 7 and 9, respectively, alfalfa and Canada field peas were each sown in 18 
boxes containing 9 separate treatments, in duplicate. To each box was added 
f pound of calcium carbonate, it having been shown by various investigators 
to promote assimilation of nitrogen by legumes. The varying treatments 
were as follows: 



BOX NUMBER 


TREATMENT 


1, 


10, 


19, 


28 


No fertilizer (checks) 


2, 


11, 


20, 


29 


Nitrogen (dried blood, 12 gm. per box) 


3, 


12, 


21, 


30 


Phosphorus (disodium phosphate, 8 gm. per box) 


4, 


13, 


22, 


31 


Potassium (muriate of potash, 8 gm. per box) 


5, 


14, 


23, 


32 


Sulfur (gypsum, 8 gm. per box) 


6, 


15, 


24, 


3Z 


Nitrogen, phosphorus, potash and sulfur in above forms (total 36 gm.) 


7, 


16, 


25, 


34 


Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash in above forms (total 28 gm.) 


8, 


17, 


26, 


35 


Nitrogen, potash, and sulfur, in above forms (total 28 gm.) 


9, 


18, 


27, 


36 


Phosphorus, potash, and sulfur, in above forms (total 24 gm.) 



Previous to seeding, the boxes were inoculated with sand cultures containing 
the sub-species of B. radicicola corresponding to the legume sown. In boxes 
1 to 18 alfalfa was sown at the same rate as ordinarily sown under field condi- 
tions. The plants were subsequently thinned out to 23 per box. Boxes 19 
to 36 were seeded with Canada field peas at the rate of 25 per box. These 
were later thinned out to 11 per box. 

Because of backwardness in becoming established, due doubtless to an 
insufl&cient supply of nitrogen, the alfalfa seedlings were sprinkled on January 
23, 1920, with a solution of nitrate of soda at the rate of 1.94 gm. per box 
(approximately 100 pounds per acre of 3,000,000 pounds of soil). 

Five cuttings of alfalfa (cut when almost fully flowered, except in the case 
of cutting no. 5 which failed to flower because of the lateness and coolness of 
the season) were obtained. These were dried in the drying chamber, weighed 
and analyzed for dry matter and total nitrogen. 



444 



ALEXANDER MACTAGGART 



The peas, which produced an enormous growth, were carefully kept upright, 
and were harvested when fully ripe. The grain and straw were weighed, and 
analyzed for dry-matter and nitrogen, separately. Photographs of the pea 
growth are shown in plate 1. 

Following the crop of Canada field peas, Ito San soybeans were seeded on 
May 22, 1920, after suitable inoculation of the soil. These were kept upright 
also and allowed to ripen fully before harvesting. The grain and straw were 
weighed, and separately analyzed for dry matter and nitrogen. 

The hme, in the form of calcium carbonate, was applied at the rate of 3 
tons (of 2000 pounds) per acre of 3,000,000 pounds of soU, the salts at the rate 
of 282.6 pounds per acre, and the dried blood at the rate of 424 pounds per 
acre. 

TABLE 1 

Average total dry matter in the various crops for the various treatments 



TREATMENT 



Lime alone (check) 

Lime and nitrogen 

Lime and phosphorus 

Lime and potassium 

Lime and sulfur 

Xime, nitrogen, phosphorus, 

potassium and sulfur 

Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus and 

potassium 

Lime, nitrogen, potassium and 

sulfur 

Lime, phosphorus, potassium, 

and sulfur 



ALFALFA 

(23 
PLANTS, 
TOTAL OF 

5 cut- 
tings) 



157.200 
154.935 
192.805 
163.490 
168.665 

209.925 

197.690 

174.995 

186.290 



canada field peas 
(11 plants) 



Grain 



42. m 

53.480 
72.400 
50.217 
25.140 

77.665 

77.250 

32.677 

75.370 



Straw 



gm. 

62.63 
74.49 
123.67 
72.36 
49.85 

125.40 

130.62 

56.54 

128.33 



Grain 
and 
straw 



gm. 

104.750 
127.970 
196.075 
122.580 
75.000 

203.070 

207.870 

89.220 

203.705 



SOYBEANS (12 plants) 



Grain 



gm. 
30.520 
30.970 
33.260* 
29.735 
30.635 

35.435 

32.205 

28.520 

34.230 



Straw 



gm. 
72.825 
74.525 
88.920 
69.635 
71.600 

86.165 

85.940 

73.135 

82.465 



Grain 
and 
straw 



gm. 

103.345 
105.495 
122.180 
99.370 
102.235 

121.600 

118.145 

101.655 

116.695 



* Only one box included in average. 

Following the harvesting of the soybeans and of the fifth cutting of alfalfa, 
the boxes of soil (plus roots) were incubated for three weeks at greenhouse 
temperatures, the moisture content at 10 per cent being maintained through- 
out this period. Immediately following incubation, the contents of the boxes 
•were carefully sampled by making six full-depth borings with a soU auger in 
each box. These samples were immediately extracted with distilled water 
and the extracts analyzed for nitrate nitrogen by the colorimetric method. 

In the determmation of total nitrogen in the various crops the Kjeldahl- 
Gunning method was used throughout. These determinations were con- 
ducted for the most part in duplicate, but where wide or reasonably wide 
variations between the dupUcates occurred (as happened in a few instances, 
especially in analyzing the grain) tripHcate determinations were made and the 



INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZERS ON NITROGEN CONTENT OF LEGUMES 445 



nearest two titrations were selected for averaging. The dry-matter and 
nitrate-nitrogen determinations also were conducted in duplicate. 

Tables 1, 2 and 3 show the average weights of dry matter and of the total 
nitrogen, also the average nitrogen percentages (based on the dry matter) 
for the dupUcate boxes growing the three crops under all treatments. 

Table 4 gives the averaged nitrification results from all salts, including lime 
(checks), after the growth of crops. 

Tables 5, 6 and 7 record the percentage increases of dry matter, of total 
nitrogen, and of the percentage of nitrogen in the three legumes as the result 
of soil treatment with the above-mentioned nutrient salts. From these tables 
and tables 8 and 9 the conclusions enumerated at the close of this thesis have 
been drawn. 

TABLE 2 

Average total nUroge)t in the various crops for the various treatments 



TREATMENT 



Lime alone (check) 

Lime and nitrogen 

Lime and phosphorus 

Lime and potassium 

Lime and sulfur 

Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus, 

potassium and sulfur 

Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus and 

potassium 

Lime, nitrogen, potassium and 

sulfur 

Lime, phosphorus, potassium 

and sulfur 





CANADA FIELD PEAS 




SOYBEANS 


ALPAXFA 
(5 CUT- 
TINGS) 












Grain 


Straw 


Grain 
and 
straw 


Grain 


Straw 


gm. 


gm. 


gm. 


gm. 


gm. 


gm. 


5.300 


1.895 


0.605 


2.500 


2.170 


0.910 


5.315 


2.480 


1.010 


3.490 


2.340 


0.890 


6.925 


3.450 


1.705 


5.155 


2.690 


1.550 


5.700 


2.750 


1.110 


3.860 


2.210 


0.810 


5.645 


1.235 


0.860 


2.095 


2.240 


0.815 


7.335 


3.645 


1.740 


5.385 


2.605 


1.390 


7.065 


3.780 


2.090 


5.870 


2.520 


1.460 


5.930 


1.560 


1.055 


2.615 


2.105 


0.995 


6.570 


3.470 


2.230 


5.700 


2.585 


1.225 



Grain 

and 

straw 

gm. 

3.080 
3.230 
4.240 
3.020 
3.055 

3.995 

3.980 

3.100 

3.810 



Tables 8 and 9 show the actual and percentage increases of nitrate nitrogen, 
in parts per million, after the growth of alfalfa and of Canada field peas and 
soybeans by the various nutrient salts. Dry-matter increases (actual) also 
are included for comparison with the corresponding nitrate-nitrogen increases. 

During the growth of the legumes a few notes of special interest respecting 
the behavior of the plants were made from time to time. 

In the peas the potash- treated plants were the first to flower, blossoms being 
noticed on the tall phosphorus-treated plants some two days later. Where 
potash was supplied the pods appeared to be best filled, while plants without 
a potash supply seemed insufficiently filled. Where a complete fertilizer was 
added the pods were more advanced and the vines ripened before those in 
the other boxes. 



446 



ALEXANDER MACTAGGAE.T 



In the alfalfa the plants that received phosphorus flowered first and thereon 
the flowers were the most abundant. The accelerating effect of phosphorus 
on the reproductive parts of the crop was here demonstrated. 

In the first growth of alfalfa an apparently injurious effect of sulfur was 
somewhat noticeable, but in later cuttings this was not visible. The inhibit- 
ing action on growth, more especially where sulfur was used alone, had dis- 
appeared, as is recorded in the percentage increases for the second and subse- 
quent cuttings. On the other hand, this effect of sulfur used alone on the 
peas was visible throughout the growth of the crop. 

TABLE 3 
Average percentage of nitrogen in the various crops for the various treatments 



TREATMENT 



Lime alone (check) 

Lime and nitrogen 

Lime and phosphorus 

Lime and potassium 

Lime and sulfur 

Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus, 

potassium and sulfur 

Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus and 

potassium 

Lime, nitrogen, potassium and 

sulfur 

Lime, phosphorus, potassium 

and sulfur 





CANADA FIELD PEAS 




SOYBEANS 


ALFALFA 

(5 cxrr- 

TINGS) 










Grain 


Straw 


Grain 

and 

straw 


Grain 


straw 


per cent 


per cent 


per cent 


per cent 


per cent 


per cent 


3.420 


4.480 


0.960 


2.720 


7.125 


1.240 


3.490 


4.640 


1.360 


3.000 


7.525 


1.200 


3.616 


4.765 


1.385 


3.075 


8.090 


1.750 


3.559 


4.530 


1.535 


3.032 


7.430 


1.160 


3.415 


4.825 


1.795 


3.310 


7.305 


1.145 


3.555 


4.695 


1.360 


3.027 


7.335 


1.610 


3.611 


4.890 


1.610 


3.250 


7.845 


1.710 


3.479 


4.825 


1.870 


3.347 


7.375 


1.355 


3.600 


4.600 


1.735 


3.167 


7.555 


1.485 



Grain 

and 

straw 

per cent 

4.18 
4.36 
4.92 
4.29 

4.22 

4.47 
4.78 
4.36 
4.52 



TABLE 4 
Average nitrate nitrogen in the soil after removal of crops, for the various treatments 





NO3 IN DRY son. 




TREATMENT 


After 
alfalfa 


After 
Canada 
field peas 

and 
soybeans 


REMARKS 


Lime alone (checks). • 


p. p. m. 
4.95 
6.85 

10.85 
4.50 
5.85 

8.80 
13.65 
11.55 

8.55 


p. p. m. 

10.7 

11.4 

13.2 

7.4 

8.2 

15.7 
22.5 
10.5 
18.0 


Nitrification determina- 


Lime and nitrogen 


tions after Canada field 


Lime and phosphorus 


peas and soybeans, 
grown successively, had 
the advantage of the 
well rotted root system 
of the pea crop 


Lime and potassium 


Lime and sulfur 


Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, 
and sulfur 


Lime, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 

Lime, nitrogen, potassium, and sulfur 

Lime, phosphorus, potassium a;nd sulfur. . . 



INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZERS ON NITROGEN CONTENT OF LEGUMES 447 



Discussion of crop results 

Upon referring to tables 1 to 3 and 5 to 7, it will be at once noticed that 
phosphorus has produced the most marked effect of all of the elements applied. 
The effect of phosphorus in increasing the dry matter, total nitrogen, and 
also, although to a lesser extent, the percentage of nitrogen in the legumes 
grown, is unmistakable. The Hterature cited above substantiates these find- 

TABLE 5 
Percentage increases of total dry matter over the checks* due to various treatments, for the three 

legumes 



TREATMENT 



Nitrogen 

Phosphorus 

Potassium 

Sulfur 

Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur. 

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 

Nitrogen, potassium and sulfur 

Phosphorus, potassium and sulfur 



ALFALFA 

(total of S 
cuttings), 

PER CENT 
INCREASE 



-1.504 
22.571 
3.935 
7.225 
33.455 
25.677 
11.249 
18.429 



CANADA FIELD 

PEAS (GRAIN 

AND straw), 

PER CENT 

INCREASE 



22.167 
87.183 
17.021 

-28.401 
93.861 
98.443 

-14.826 
94.467 



SOYBEANS 
(grain AND 

straw), 

PER CENT 
INCREASE 



2.080 

18.225 

-3.847 

-1.074 

17.664 

14.321 

-1.636 

12.917 



* Checks received lime alone and all treatments contained lime at the same rate. 

TABLE 6 
Percentage increases of total nitrogen over the checks, due to various treatments, for the three 

legumes 



TREATMENT 



Nitrogen 

Phosphorus 

Potassium 

Sulfur 

Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur. 

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 

Nitrogen, potassium and sulfur 

Phosphorus, potassium and sulfur 



ALFALFA 

(total of S 
cuttings) , 

PER CENT 
INCREASE 



0.283 
30.660 
7.547 
6.509 
38.396 
33.301 
11.886 
23.962 



CANADA FIELD 

PEAS (grain 

AND straw) , 

PER CENT 

INCREASE 



39.6 

106.2 

54.4 

-16.2 

115.4 

134.8 

4.6 

128.0 



SOYBEANS 
(GRAIN AND 
STRAW) . 
PER CENT 
INCREASE 



4.870 

37.662 

-1.948 

-0.812 

29.707 

29.202 

0.649 

23.701 



ings with respect to the beneficial influence of phosphorus; and these results 
add further testimony to the importance of this vital substance to the growth 
of crops and to the growth of leguminous crops in particular. Doubtless, 
this decidedly beneficial influence is due mainly to the bacterial stimulus by 
phosphorus, as is indicated by TruesdeU (56). 

With legumes, this experiment has indicated that any fertiHzer, possibly 
with the exception of sulfur, that increases yield increases the percentage of 
nitrogen. 



448 



ALEXANDER MACTAGGART 



Naturally, combined nitrogen is not as essential to legumes as is phosphorus. 
Nevertheless, we find it playing some part in the growth of these crops, vary- 
ing with the crop and its habit of growth and with the association of elements 
in which nitrogen is employed. For example, of the three plant species, peas 
were benefited in growth the most by nitrogen when it was used alone, while 
alfalfa was the least benefited; whereas by nitrogen in combination with 
other substances alfalfa was benefited in growth the most, and peas the least. 
While nitrogen, used alone, here slightly increased the percentage of nitrogen 
in the three legimies, particularly in the case of peas, yet when used in combi- 
nation with other substances it did not have this effect. 

In general, combined nitrogen in this experiment appeared to play some 
part in promoting nitrogen assimilation by legumes. It at least did not ham- 
per the operation of this phenomenon, in keeping with the findings of the 

TABLE 7 
Percentage increases of percentage of nitrogen in plants over the checks, due to various treatments, 

for the three legumes 



TREATMENT 



Nitrogen 

Phosphorus 

Potassium 

Sulfur 

Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur 

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 

Nitrogen, potassium and sulfur 

Phosphorus, potassium and sulfur 



ALFALFA 

(average of S 
cuttings), 

PER CENT 
INCREASE 



2.046 
5.731 
4.064 
-0.146 
3.947 
5.584 
1.725 
5.263 



CANADA FIELD 

PEAS (GRAIN 

AND straw) , 

PER CENT 

INCREASE 



10.294 
13.051 
11.489 
21.691 
11.305 
19.485 
23.069 
16.452 



soybeans 
(grain and 

STRAW), 
PER CENT 
INCREASE 



4.306 
17.703 
2.631 
0.957 
6.937 
14.354 
4.306 
8.134 



majority of the investigators cited under this section; but whether or not the 
action would be impaired in the presence of large quantities of nitrogen is 
not within the scope of this investigation to answer. 

The treatments were so arranged that only the effects of potassiimi used 
alone can be considered and these effects are beneficial in the cases of the 
growth of peas and of alfalfa, but apparently not in the case of the growth of 
soybeans. Peas were the most benefited in growth by muriate of potash, for 
this crop, of all three crops, showed the largest percentage increases of dry 
matter, of total nitrogen, and of percentage of nitrogen with potassitmi 
treatment. 

Sulfur, without other fertilizer substances and in the form of gypsum, was 
apparently toxic to peas and slightly toxic to soybeans. To alfalfa, however, 
it proved beneficial, and this effect increased with the development of the 
crop, as shown by the successive cuttings, doutbless because of the disappear- 
ance of the toxic influence at first established in the soil. Had a less sandy 
soil been used the seemingly toxic effect noted, in all probability, would have 



INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZERS ON NITROGEN CONTENT OF LEGUMES 449 



been less in evidence. Sulfur in combination with other substances was appar- 
ently toxic only in the case of peas, and even here this seeming toxicity was 
less marked than it was where sulfur was used alone. The fact that the treat- 
ments contained lime in fair quantity may possibly have accounted, in no 
small measure, for the satisfactory results obtained with alfalfa when fertilized 
with calciurai sulfate — an experience recorded from experiments embodying 
the use of gypsum on calcareous soils. 

As shown by Truesdell (56) in his investigations, the third cutting of alfalfa, 
on the whole, was the most satisfactory, the yields of dry-matter and the analy- 
ses being in general higher than those associated with the other cuttings. 

The striking differences for the various treatments shown throughout the 
investigation have been made possible as the result mainly of using a com- 
pounded soil that was practically a sand. Had an ordinary soil been used, 
these differences would in large measure have been masked by the effect of 
plant-food elements inherent in the soil. The results herein obtained can at 
least lay claim to have in some small measure strengthened our knowledge of 
the growth reqmrements of legmnes, and of alfalfa, Canada field peas and 
soybeans in particular. 

TABLE 8 
Iticrease in soil nitrification due to salts, after growth of alfalfa (5 cuttings) 



INCREASE DUE xo 



Nitrogen 

Phosphorus 

Potassium 

Sulfur 

Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur 

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 

Nitrogen, potassium and sulfur 

Phosphorus, potassium and sulfur 




INCREASE OF 

TOTAL 
DRY MATTER 

gm. 

-2.365 
35.505 
6.190 
11.365 
52.625 
40.390 
17.695 
28.990 



TABLE 9 
Increase in soil nitrification due to salts, after growth of Canada field peas and soybeans 



INCREASE DUE TO 



Nitrogen 

Phosphorus 

Potassium 

Sulfur 

Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur 

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium 

Nitrogen, potassium and sulfur 

Phosphorus, potassium and sulfur 



INCREASE OF 
NO3 OVER CHECK 



p. p. m. 

0.7 

2.5 
-3.0 
-2.5 

5.0 

11.8 

-0.2 

7.3 



per cent 

6.54 

23.36 

-28.03 

-23.36 

46.72 

110.28 

-1.87 

68.22 



INCREASE OF 
TOTAL DRY MATTER 



Peas and 
soybeans 



gm. 

25.370 
110.160 
13.855 
-30.860 
116.575 
117.920 
-17.220 
112.305 



Peas alone 



gm. 

23.220 
91.325 
17.830 

-29.750 

75.100 

103 . 120 

-15.530 
98.955 



450 ALEXANDER MACTAGGART 

Discussion of soil nitrification results 

A perusal of the soil nitrification results, as recorded in tables 4, 8, and 9, 
shows that salts or their combinations which most markedly promoted the 
growth of legumes usually caused the highest nitrification. Such was par- 
ticularly the case wherever phosphorus was applied. This observation con- 
curs with the conclusion of Greaves (19) who found that those compounds 
which are the strongest plant stimulants are also the most active in increasing 
nitric-nitrogen accumulation in the soil. He attributes this correlation to the 
stimulus given to the bacteria by the beneficial compound. This may be a 
factor in the results herein recorded, but we are inclined to give some recog- 
nition also to the effect of the decayed roots of the previous crop upon nitric- 
nitrogen accumulation. The increased top growth is correlated with increased 
root development, hence with more organic matter for nitrification. There 
was greater nitrification after peas and soybeans (grown in the same boxes 
of soil) than after alfalfa (five cuttings). The extensive root systems of the 
huge pea plants had opportunity to decay weU, whereas there would be less 
decay of the alfalfa roots, even though extensive. 

Nitrogen, appUed alone, increased soil nitrification after all three crops, 
particularly after alfalfa; but when this nutrient was applied in combination 
with the other substances, it decreased nitrification after peas and soybeans 
and slightly increased it after alfalfa. It would thus appear that alfalfa is 
less dependent upon nitrate nitrogen for growth than are the other two leg- 
iraies, peas especially. 

Sulfur depressed nitrate-nitrogen accimiulation, except when used alone as 
a fertilizer nutrient for alfalfa, which crop it also otherwise benefited, both 
alone and combined with other elements. In general, this finding was in 
accordance with the findings of Duley (8) who found that the nitrate-content 
of the soil varied inversely with the amount of soluble sulfate in the soil. 

Potassium apparently slightly inhibited nitrate-accumulation after aU three 
crops. It may here be mentioned, however, that because of the presence of 
chlorides (in the KCl used) there may possibly have been a slight loss of ni- 
trates during the process of determination by the colorimetric method, which 
involves the use of pheno-disulfonic acid. 

CONCLUSIONS 

Effects of phosphorus 

Of all the fertilizer elements in the salts appHed to the compounded soil, 
phosphorus showed the most marked effect. As a single element it markedly 
increased the dry-matter and total nitrogen, and to a lesser extent the per- 
centage of nitrogen in all three legumes, the order of greatest average influence 
on the crop being: (a) Canada field peas, (b) soybeans and (c) alfalfa. In the 
three crops phosphorus, used alone, showed its powerful influence on the three 



INPLTJENCE OF FERTILIZERS ON NITROGEN CONTENT OF LEGUMES 451 

factors in the following order: (a) increase of total nitrogen; (b) increase of 
dry-matter and (c) increase in the percentage of nitrogen. 

In combination with nitrogen, potassium and sulfur, phosphorus markedly- 
increased the dry matter and total nitrogen in Canada field peas, soybeans 
and ahalfa. However, it increased the percentage of nitrogen in soybeans and 
alfalfa only slightly, if at all, and decreased the percentage in the case of 
peas. 

Effects of nitrogen 

As a single element nitrogen can hardly be said to benefit the plants with 
respect to yields of either dry matter or nitrogen, or the percentage of nitro- 
gen, unless in the case of Canada field peas, which appeared to respond some- 
what in each of these three properties. 

In combination with phosphorus, potassiimi, and sulfur, nitrogen promoted 
no more response in the legumes than where it was employed alone. Indeed, 
there was perhaps less response from nitrogen when used in association with. 
the other elements. 

Combined nitrogen did not hamper the operation of nitrogen assimilation 
by legimies; but whether or not it would have hindered the phenomenon 
had large quantities of nitrogen been used, could not be answered by this 
experiment. 

Effects of potassium 

Potassium, used alone, showed its greatest influence in increasing, on the 
average, the total nitrogen and dry matter in Canada field peas and alfalfa, 
in the order named. In soybeans, however, it showed a decrease with respect 
to these factors. Only in the percentage of nitrogen did potassium show an 
increase common to all three crops, and this in the crop order just named. 

Effects of sidfur 

Sulfur, in the form of gj^jsum, used alone and in combination with other 
fertilizer salts, increased somewhat the growth and nitrogen content of alfalfa 
but appears not to have had any effect on field peas and soybeans. 

General effect of fertilizer salts 

In general it may be said that when any application of fertilizer, with the 
exception of gypsum, increased the peld of the legumes grown, there was also 
an increase in the percentage of nitrogen in the plants. 

Effects of fertilizer salts on soil nitrification, after legumes 

Where phosphorus was applied there was, in general, the greatest nitrate 
accumulation after all crops. Thus salts or their combinations which most 
markedly promoted the growth of legumes, as did phosphorus, usually caused 
the greatest nitrification. 



452 ALEXANDER MACTAGGART 

Nitrogen applied alone increased soil nitrification after all three crops, par- 
ticularly after alfalfa, but when this nutrient was applied in combination with 
the other substances it did not have such an efifect. 

Potassium, in the form of muriate of potash, apparently slightly inhibited 
nitrate-nitrogen accumulation. 

Sulfur, in the form of gypsum, increased nitrification in soil in which alfalfa 
had grown but not in soil in which peas and soybeans had grown. There 
appears to be a connection between the effect of sulfur on the crop and on 
nitrification following the crop. 

In general, there appeared to be a tendency toward correlation between the 
dry matter produced and subsequent soil nitrification — due in part, it is as- 
sumed, to the greater root system associated with greater top growth, hence 
to greater amounts of decayed roots for promoting nitrification. 

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SOIL SCIENCE, VOL. XI, NO 6 



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PLATE 1 

Fig. 1. Canada field peas fertilized with individual elements; note the pronounced effect 
of phosphorus. 

Fig. 2. Canada field peas fertiUzed with elements in various combinations; note the 
pronounced effect of phosphorus. 



INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZERS OX NITROGEN 
CONTENT OF LEGUMES 

ALEXANDER MACIAGGART 



PLATE 1 




Fig. 1 




Fig. 2 

455 



